Automobile roof-lining construction



Dec. 3l, 1929. R. T. MARKEE 1,741,946

AUTOMOBILE ROOF LINING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 15, 1926 5/7 /3 mun 1 ummm INVENTOR REUL T. MARKEE Patented Dec. 31, 1929 l f i 1,741,945

UNITED ,STATES PATENT otros` i i REUl-L. MARKER,` F PHILADEi-LPHIA, PENNSYLTANI i ,AUTOMOBILE ROOF-LINING GONSTRUTIO application filed August 13, 1926. Serial No. `128,954.

My inventionrelates to a new and useful strumentalities, as herein shown and deroof lining construction in automobile bodies scribed. i and it relates more particularly to a new and y Referring to the drawings i useful liningihanger adapted to beiused in Figure l represents a front elevation of a i the lining of the underside or ceiling ofthe hanger. embodying my invention, as applied' *55 roofs of automobiles and the like, particu to a cross bar of an automobile roof. larly closed automobiles. Figure 2 represents a vertical section on line It has `been the practice heretofore, in 2-2 of Figure l,illustrating the manner in lining the inside of the roof offan automobile which the hanger of my novel l construction or the like, to tack `the lining material diis applied to a cross bar of the roof, and theA U0 rectly into a series of spaced and parallel manner in which the lining material is sup- `cross bars, forming the frame work of such ported by said hanger.

roof. This practice is disadvantageous in Figure 3 represents afront elevation of a that it leaves the lining material thus supmodified construction of a lining hanger. emported, loose and sagging, both between the bodying my invention.V i

spaced cross bars, and between the points of Figure `4represents a vertical sectionalview fastening; provides a `rather insecure anon line 4-4 of Figure 3. y ,a i chorage for the lining, since the tacks very Figure 5 represents a fragmentary secfrequently work loose because of the weight tional view, partly in perspective, of an autoof the lining material hanging therefrom, mobile roof, illustrating the application ofl and such construction greatly shortens the my novel lining hanger. life of the lining material, by the frequent Referring to the drawing, `in which like Vtearing of such material at the tacked points, reference characters indicate like parts, l due to the concentration of the strain of the designates a lining hanger of my novel conweight of the lining material, upon the relastruction,'thesame being composed of a single' tively few points of tacking. strip of any suitable flexible andA durable The object of my present invention is to fabric, folded back upon itself to form on Y )rovide a novel roof construction includino' one side of the hanoer the u er vertical a lining hanger or support, whereby it is portion 2, the conveXed portion 3, the lower possible quickly and economically to secure vertical portion 4, and the lower horizontal" f the desired lining to the underside of any d portion 5, and to form on theother side of desired roof, and to maintain the same taut the hanger the corresponding upper horiat all times, and secure against tearing. zontalportion 6, the lower vertical portion 7,

` i Vith the above ends in view, my invention the conveXed portion 8 and the upper vertical consists of a lining hanger made of flexible portion 9. The fabric strip may be folded fabric, a reinforcing` bar encased in` said back upon itself either along the lower edge fabric, and a reinforcing srtip superimposed of the hanger, common to the two contiguous upon and secured to the edge of said lining horizontal portions 5 and 6, as shown in Fighanger where the saine comes in contact with ure 2, or along the upper edge of the hanger, and is secured to the lining material proper. common to the two contiguous upper vertical 90 For the purpose of illustrating my invenportions 2 and 9.` The two conveXed portions tion, I have shown in the accompanying draw- 3 and 8 forni an elongated tube, in which'is ings, forms thereof which are at present presnugly fitted the reinforcing rod or bar 10, ferred by ine since they will give in practice, which is tightly retained in position by the 5 satisfactory and reliable results, although it rows of stitches 1l and 12 passing through the 95 is to be understood that the various instrucontiguous vertical portions a and 7, and2 and mentalities of which my invention consists 9respectively. `13 designates a tack or other can be variously arranged and organized and fastening device passingtransversely through that my invention is not limited to the precise the Vupper verticalportions 2 and 9 of the lin-` arrangement and organization of these ining hanger 1 into the cross bar lil inthe iofV of the automobile in a generally horizontal direction, or at a right angle to the direction of the load of the lining supported thereby. 15 designates a reinforcing strip superimposed upon the horizontal portions 5 and 6 and secured thereto and to the lining 16 by the row of stitches 17, passing therethrough.

In Figures 3 and 4 I have illustrated a modified construction of an automobile roof lining hanger, embodying my invention, in which I emplo two separate-strips offabric 18 and 19 see Figure 4), instead of the single strip of fabric folded back upon itself as shown in Figure 2. Thus the strip of fabric 18 comprises the upper vertical portion 20, the convexed portion 21 and the lower vertical portion 22, while the fabric strip 19 comprises the lower horizontal portion23, the lower vertical portion 24, the convexed portion 26 and the upper vertical portion 27. Over the horizontal portion 23, is superimposed the reinforcing strip 25, the two being then secured together and to the lining 16,

the row of stitches 17 passing theret rough. The stitches 11 and 12, not only serve to retain the reinforcing bar 1() in position in the tubular chamber formed by the convexed portions 21 and 26, but also serve to join and secure together the two strips of fabric 18 and 19 of which the lining hanger is composed. i

In Figure 5 I have illustrated the manner in which the linin 16 is secured to the ceiling or the underside of the roof of an automobile, by the series of lining hangers of my novel construction. Thus, I take a number of complete lining hanger units, as seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5, equal to the number .if cross bars in the roof of the automobile, nd sew the same onto the lining material to be used, at suitable intervals, substantially equal to the space between the corresponding cross bars. I then proceed to tack or otherwise secure the lining hanger in place, on the vertical edges of saidcross bars, thus stretching the lining material taut as the work of fastening the hangers to the cross bars progresses. l It will also be seen from Figures 2, 4 and 5, that the tack 13 from which the lining hanger of my novel construction is supported, is driven into the cross bar at a right angle to the pendant lining hanger, thus l practically eliminating the outward tension or pull on the tacks, and preventing the same from working loose. It will also now be apparent that Ihave devised a lining hanger of a durable construction, of universal applicability and one which can be economically manufactured and assembled and very easily installed. IA also effect a neat appearance in the inner lining of the roofs of automobiles by my novel construction, ar'rd reduce to a minimum the necessity for repair and replacement.y

from the spirit or scope of the invention, or-

sacrificing any of its advantages.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a roof structure including cross bars and a lining, an intermediate lining hanger, consisting of a one piece strip of fabric longitudinally arranged and doubled upon itself a and having upper and lower horizontal lines of stitching to form a longitudinal horizontal pocket of substantially circular cross-section, the doubled portions above and below said lines of stitching forming upper and lower doubled vertical walls, means for securing the upper of said walls to a cross bar of said roof, the lower of said doubled walls terminating in a right angle doubled foot portion, a longitudinal horizontal reinforcing strip superimposed upon said doubled foot portion, a line of stitching passing through said reinforcing strip, said doubled foot portion and said lining, and a reinforcing rod encased in and extending throughout the length of said pocket.

REUEL T. MARKEE. 

